Family Wedding

Noelle and Tim are delighted to announce etc. Alex our firstborn married Kasia, a lovely Polish girl, on 25th February in Pickering Parish Church where Alex had been a choir boy for six years. The night before we met with our new Polish family and had 20 for dinner. We all had a lovely day with some sun, no rain but chilly for those in stylish wedding wear. Kasia was preceded onto church by her niece who threw flower petals elegantly down the aisle. The priest failed to get his tongue around Katarzyna while the organist did an excellent impromptu performance when the church CD player refused to fire up! The reception was held at the Stone Trough Inn near Kirkham Abbey after which Alex and Kasia were highjacked and taken to a The Lodge in Old Malton for their first married night.

Noelle with Tim, Alex, Eddie and Ollie ready to leave for the Church

Tim with his daughters Kristina and Rachel

Noelle enjoyed her day

Alex and Kasia on the Church Steps

Rice, petals and confetti

Unaware they are about to be highjacked

Website spring clean and chat

We had a great meeting today with our website team Design Farm. We want to offer plenty of information but also have a lively appearance to the site. Gary and Cheryl are working on an upgrade of the site which we hope you will like. We can add more itineraries as time goes on - Our 10 favourite picnic places, what to do in Helmsley, wet weather activities with children and so on. If all goes according to plan pages will load better and pictures roll past without huge delays. Links to Flickr should be easier to work and it will be possible to view all the availability calendars simultaneously. If we work on our keywords and gather up more traffic you may find more people checking out their holiday times. You Have Been Warned. Bookings have been good this winter and our summer season is filling nicely. We have availability in the Barn in May and some 5 night breaks from 25th June as we have booked the weekend of 23rd for our 120th birthday party. £590 from 25th June. There is also 4 nights at the Coach House from 14 April at £530. This weekend we are celebrating Alex and Kasia's wedding and all our children will be home. Eddie returns from Patagonia briefly before setting off on an extraordinary journey on horse to Texas. Check The Horse Boy Trek and it will explain our lack of sleep currently! Kristina is discovering the pressures and frustrations of a first year doctor in north east London while Ollie is working with an IT consultancy firm which defies comprehension. Rachel is in her second year of training to be a children's nurse at King's in London. All three live within a walk of each other which is great for staying in contact. Spring is a season of rejuvenation and hope. It certainly feels like that here.

Circular walk from Pickering.

Pickering is an attractive market town with a small shopping street leading up to the Parish Church at the top of the Market Place. This is well worth a visit to see the medieval wall paintings and the Georgian chandeliers and pulpit. Our walk started near Pickering Castle - go left at the top of the Market Place up Burgate which becomes Castlegate where there is often parking to be had.

It is an important motte and bailey castle dating back to William the Conqueror. It had long associations with the kings and also John of Gaunt, Bolingbroke, Sir Francis Bacon as well as Cromwell and other key figures in history. We chose to walk clockwise round the Castle, anti-clockwise or widdishins was thought to be the work of witches but that way has a rather slippery surface. There is a good view down to the road to Newbridge,

the beck as it slips past the Trout Farm, the railway and in the background Lady Lumley's School and the Beacon. The latter is a mound where a bonfire could be lit to warn neighbouring parishes of troubles. There was a second world war shelter built into it but I declined a place in it in case of nuclear strike as it was but a single survivor offer. A well shod path skirts the Castle walls and an offshoot heads away to the north. Take this branch and note the very shallow wall crossing as you will drop down to the left a little, 10 paces further on. This muddy, rooted and at times glass strewn path threads its way through the woods for about half a mile to reach Lowther House at Newbridge.

The woods are a natural regrowth on 18th century quarry workings. They later were used as a Victorian dump which explains the wide variety of glass and pottery that has been dug over the years. During the last war they were used for final training before heading to Europe. We are trying to build a bike trail through the woods in addition to the bike jumping area in the quarry you will pass.

In time there will be an active woodland management plan with an ambition to recreate ancient woodland habitats and perhaps offer an example of every native English tree to search out. We will offer discount for any green wood turner who wishes to stay while giving classes in the wood! As you reach Newbridge there is a flight of steps leading down to the road,

 almost opposite is a row of houses and a metal bridge

that will take you past the front doors and to a gated crossing of the single track of the NYMR railway. Once safely across turn to the left and follow the path that runs back towards Pickering.

On the right is a valley side where our children used to gather fossils for me to carry home... You will pass close to the Pottery

and house of an interesting family of artists. There is always plenty of interest and photo opportunities.

Our children warmly recall their holiday courses where they emerged dirty, happy and carrying some pottery treasure. You will see the trout farm on the left and some tunnel like openings on the right which are derelict, and perhaps dangerous, lime kilns.

Roasting lime altered its chemical composition and became useful for putting on the land to encourage grasses rather than bracken. A gate near the Rookers house

takes you into a large field, you should head slightly to the left to meet the wall end by the beck. You will see various bits of railway carriage awaiting renovation. The steep green slope on the right - the Rookers - is where the youth of Pickering used to gather to sledge down on anything that slithered on the snow - including younger sisters. The whole field is rippled by the ploughing practice of rig and furrow which either increased surface area for planting or offered a variation of moisture content of the soil, and may have offered family sized strips for cultivation. The beck runs close to the wall side path

towards the level crossing and the approaches to the station via the car park. Its always interesting to see rolling stock renovation taking place either here or at the main depot at Grosmont.

The station has many fascinating features and characters, never the more so than at War Weekend when all are dressed in period costume. We crossed the beck again by a metal bridge and walked along Wells Walk towards Pickering.

This was the original road to Newton but somehow was never written down as a public right of way so has been surrounded in controversy of late. You will pass Beck Isle Museum on the left which was the site of the first agricultural college in the country. It houses a remarkable collection of photographs by Sydney Smith as well as an Aladdin's Cave of household artefacts. On the far side of the road is the Memorial Hall where there is a large mural by Rex Whistler. By now you may wish to consider the large number of opportunities to take tea or have a bite to eat in the town. There must be a style and price to suit everyone as you make your way up the Market Place and take the

left at the top and head back towards the Castle. You will have passed nearly all the key buildings in the town but there are plenty of delightful corners yet to discover

.

A walk up the hillside from Noelles Cottages

We are looking at the walks that you can make straight from the door of the cottage and this one is an extension of Millie's usual excursion. It starts from the top of the garden where you turn left along High Back Side above the Church. At the tiny cross roads you turn right and start up the seemingly endless slope heading north. You pass a large badger sett on the left and soon reach the bench dedicated to a local man who loved this walk

.

You may sit and regain energy and puff and consider the regular field patterns that date back to the Enclosure Acts of 1750 - 1800 that have done much to shape our countryside.

With imagination you can picture Lake Pickering that started at the base of the slope and only finally became a memory when the Dutch were brought over to drain the land. Below Riseborough there are remains of a village on stilts alongside the narrow river that runs south to the River Rye.

Wherever you look there seems to be a row of trees on the horizon. At this time of year they reveal their structure well and can make strong forms in the landscape. Millie likes to make the foreground interest, it's amusing to see how very odd a dog looks when on the move.

As the narrow road climbs the hill you pass a small hotel/restaurant now called Tantara Lodge and further to a crumbling farm undergoing extensive restoration. It's always enjoyable to see good looking horses out for some exercise.

The tarmac finishes and the mud road continues north until opening out into a large field where the sheep were curious but nervous. Lovely light and enthusiastic subjects.

A brief walk to the right along the Cropton to Newton road leads to the track unto the Roman Camps. The story is that the Roman soldiers marched up from Malton to practice building the formulaic camps with earth ramparts and standard layout. Whatever the real origin for the ramparts it was certainly and beautiful setting they chose with views across Elleron Lake and Lodge to the hills beyond. It is easy to be lulled into the idea that this area is only slightly tilted fields and woods. You reach the edge of the Roman Camp, or indeed beyond the pub at Levisham or at the Hole of Horcum and the world drops away below your feet. The woods around the Roman Camps were looking very attractive in the strong low light, birch trees, bracken and a light dusting of snow.

Searching out interesting photos and chatting to neighbours and friends extended the walk to 3 hours but I am sure it could be done in much less. Runners like the gradual uphill and the good 'going' for most of the way. There is little traffic on any of the roads and plenty to look at. As we left the woods we came across a straddler from the distant hunt we had heard tooting in the distance. You couldn't help feeling a little sorry for him as he had lost all his chums!

After a few hundred yards we turned right at the crossroads towards Pickering and passed a good looking farm with a typical arched cart shed.

At times the sun broke through backlighting moss and beech leaves to good effect.

The sky was increasingly grey and rain threatened so we shortened our walk by nipping through Broats Farm

and rejoining the road to Middleton at Tantara Lodge. The alternative is to drop down into Pickering and make a choice of the many tea shops and cafes we have on offer. In a few weeks we will have our own teashop, next door at the Post Office in Middleton, a new meeting place for the village we hope.

Christmas Greeting and Noelle's update

Noelle and Tim would like to wish you a Very Happy Christmas. We are looking forward to a crisp Festive Season and recall the knee deep snow we were experiencing last year. We are enjoying the clear morning skies and this morning we have a good frost on the ground and in the trees. We have made a few lovely walks lately and have added one to the cottage blog with photos of the route. We hope to make a collection of walks that we have enjoyed so that visitors can have a good idea of what to look forward to. We had a really interesting visit to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park just outside Wakefield. It is very close to the motorway - a good hours drive away from here. More photos to be posted over the next days. We saw wonderful alabaster carved heads which were strangely unreal yet very beautiful. Hailstones and cold winds added to the experience and we were glad to find the excellent cafe, warm and open for business. After a brief pause we met friends and spent the evening at the Shed - an amazing tiny music venue that punches way above its weight. Hank Wangford and the Lost Cowboys amused us till late. We are busy putting trees in front of the Hall and preparing for Christmas. The cottages are slowly taking on a festive look and the Hall gradually looking as if it might be ready for the celebrations. If all works well we will have a traditional Christmas day with all the children except Eddie, who has returned to Patagonia. If you are not of a nervous disposition you can read about his amazing exploits and dramas along with some excellent photos. We are looking forward to our eldest - Alex - getting married in February. Eddie is enjoying his late gapyear finding freedom and excitement on a remote ranch in Argentina Kristina is now qualified and has enjoyed her first experiences working on a children's ward in London. The pace has increased as she now is busy with orthopaedics and the elderly. Ollie is becoming an expert in something esoteric in his consultancy work in London while Rachel thrives on her children's nursing course, also in London. They all live quite close to each other so we can visit them from time to time and enjoy a visit to the city. Tim has recently returned from a further visit to Namibia where he set up a small group of village health workers and is negotiating to return to extend the project in the Spring where he will continue taking far too many photos!. Noelle visited Namibia and enjoyed the sights and also sitting under a tree teaching about babies and nutrition. She visited Plum Village in France to a Buddhist retreat where the venerable Thich Nhat Hanh is based. Well into his 80's he remains thoughtful, youthful and inspiring. Millie our black lab benefitted from prolonged training when Eddie was home to recharge and gather up some money for the next adventure. Max the black and white cat is our only other pet, she loves to curl up on Millie's bed and the two of them sleep contentedly in the warmth of our kitchen. Our black and white wildlife at the top of the garden are very active and have made elaborate tunnel entrances, almost like flyovers. We seem to have fewer birds this year and butterflies are remarkable for their scarcity. We will plant plenty of buddleia in the paddock to tempt them back. The New Year has many challenges and excitements, the greatest of which is the prospect of becoming Bunia and Dziadzius (jadyush) thanks to Alex's Kasia, a lovely Polish girl who will bless us with a small person in the Summer. We hope you will have a Happy Christmas and we look forward to seeing you again sometime. Noelle and Tim

A short walk from Noelle's Cottages

Tim slipped away with Millie to allow Noelle to enjoy her birthday celebration coffee morning with a group of her girlfriends. A yearly event in the Dutch tradition that is best left undisturbed by a male intruder. The day started sunny and mild and the walk past the Coach House garden showed the efforts we have made to put the garden to bed. Our landscape adviser loves to crown lift everything in sight and I have avoided a short back and sides only on account of having no crown myself. The huge sycamore has duly been trimmed to let more light into the garden.

There are still plenty of leaves and quite a few apples yet to come down. The bendy house has been woven tightly so that it behaves well in the spring.

At the top of the garden next to the road is a nature watching hide. I don't like to use the B word in case men with spades come. A present from my medical partners when I left the local practice last year. Two or three can sit quietly and watch through the glazed window at dusk. The wildlife has been very busy digging elaborate tunnel entrances and has an elongated latrine area down the cottage access road.

North Yorkshire is huge and sparsely populated which makes it an interesting place to visit. It is said that there are more sheep than people in the county.

Rusty farm machinery is often attractive and the blue sky with clouds is a lovely background. Its amazing how the horizon always seem to sport a row of trees...

The sky over the neighbouring farm looked amazing today complete with wheeling rooks.

The winter barley has sprouted and makes a carpet of green, the trick is to make an interesting composition which I have yet to manage.

Just to prove I really did take Millie. Here she is obediently sitting at the end of the road that runs north of the main road. The old Saxon layout of the village was to have the main street with its

farm buildings, some land adjacent to the farm, a road running beyond that and then more fields further away. Thus we should have High Back Side and Low Back Side. Infill executive housing on the south side of the village is now inhabited by those of a vintage where the address low back side might be appropriate but also offensive. Sadly the matching road was renamed Back Lane South. An opportunity missed I feel, perhaps a pressure group should be established..... Nearly opposite the road end is Londis, handy for fuel and for groceries and a surprising range of other items, thick walking socks, fly papers and remarkably good cakes as well as the magical Glave's pork pies.

Walking along the A170 for a couple of hundred yards is no great hardship although other dogs had clearly passed this way before. Slow progress with Millie inspecting every calling card left in the grass. Looking back towards the village gives a tranquil impression suggestive of another age.

Just round the corner is Keld Head House. This was a time capsule inhabited by old ladies who kept all their family possessions and never altered the structure. When they finally gave up the property there was a fascinating collection of items, narwhale tusk bed and walking sticks, Victorian writing practice books with elegant copperplate script, georgian clothing and many other personal artefacts. Downstairs the floors appeared to be of some burr walnut material. In fact it was polished beaten earth while upstairs there was a circular hole in the panelling which would have opened into a cupboard. This was for a servant to powder the wig while its wearer put their head through the hole. I think this was to reduce the population of lice rather than to enhance its colour. Much was lost when the subsequent owner made substantial 'improvements'.

Across the road is Keld Head pond which is fed from below by a huge volume of spring water. This is said to make the bottom of the pond into quicksand. The water is very pure and at a steady temperature, ideal for fish. It was a shame that Pickering sited its sewage farm 100 yards away and then led storm water into the outflow some half a mile downstream. Firstly we cannot drink the water for fear of contamination and then within weeks of completion the storm drain its poured mahogany coloured contents into the beck and all the trout, pike, grayling and others were killed off. The outflow from the pond itself however remains a magical sight with brilliant green clumps of weed against a chalky floor. The pond has been recently landscaped and we all hope for a sensitive return of wildlife.

Walking down the side of the pond leads to a series of bridges and the backside path. First though is the chance to see the swans which traditionally nest on a tiny island and then the weir which controls the flow of water into the beck.

The beck meanders gently past what probably had been water meadows while the somewhat muddy path crosses and recrosses the beck offering enjoyable views into the crystal clear water and also back to Middleton.

At this point I had hoped to amaze you with photos of pike grayling and brown trout and perhaps a few escapee rainbow trout. You will have to make do with the weed, and more views of the beck.

From the third bridge you can look into the trout farm with its aerating water paddles before plunging down a narrow dark tunnel in the hawthorn bushes. This is always atmospheric and a little unsettling though perfectly safe.

After a few yards you emerge onto a small lane, turn right and pass the millennium woods. A small cross roads allows you to deviate left to extend the walk, or right to buy fresh, often outsized double yolker, free range eggs from an honesty sales point - an old fridge.

The direct way back is to go straight across and along Middleton Carr Lane. A carr is a field and often a boggy one at that. The word may come from Norse origins. The Vikings often came to these parts and when they left there was a small community with strong Norse language links who remained. Stape is a scattered community above Newton who have an almost unintelligible dialect when they choose with many words of Danish. Nearer Middleton is the Aislaby United Football Club ground. This continues to be active but changed in style from 50 years ago when every village would have its own cricket and football team. Wrelton Middleton and Aislaby united to form this club.

Next to Carr House is this pile which is perhaps the northern extension of the Tate Modern...or not.

Back to the A170 and the Middleton Village Hall with its newly cleared village pond. Here Millie's predecessor and daughter had their inglorious moment of fame. They systematical cleared the entire flock of ducks to the indignation of the assembled village. Neatly laid out were rows of dead ducks and ducklings and two black labs with silly grins on their faces. I am not sure why I was the one to slink away so shamed.

The western approach to Middleton is marked by this giant suppository on the roadside. The wise men of the village are a little vague as to its origins, perhaps one of the shells fired into Scarborough, possibly a bomb dumped after a raid on Hull, maybe a wild apprentice pharmacist - who knows?

A little further along High Back Side is a view up 'The Dale' which is a glacial valley heading south to 'Lake Pickering' on the other side of the A170. This was the site of a cricket pitch some decades ago when the spectators would arrange themselves on the banks and look down onto the (surely Lilliputian) game below.

Millioe and I bumped into a wise historian and sole supporter of Aislaby United. A quintessentially Ryedale character complete with Wellies, bailer band in the pocket just in case and a dog on a string. He gives a regular rendering of Jake the Peg complete with an extra leg.

To complete the walk I dived into Middleton Church and surrounds. Viking, Saxon and later influences make this a fascinating place to visit. The original owners of Middleton Hall are to be found to the right of the entrance. His wife died giving birth to her eighth child, all the previous one had died at birth or infancy. Understandably perhaps he chose to move away and rent the Hall out before finding a new wife.

So then back to greet Noelle and enjoy some Dutch Apple cake. The whole walk should take no more than 45 minutes and is all on the flat other than for the bridges. A delightful wander whatever the weather. There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes - so says the owner of Trailblazers who of course sell fabulous all weather clothing! Lots to see and think about and plenty of opportunities to take a half decent photograph.